Devices and method for bundling a stack of sheet-type objects

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for bundling a stack ( 02 ) of sheet-type objects comprising a supporting plate ( 06 ) for the stack ( 02 ) and a banderole ( 01 ) intersecting between the surface of the supporting plate ( 06 ) and an underside of the stack ( 02 ). A channel ( 07 ) is formed in the supporting plate for pushing the banderole ( 01 ) through the stack. The supporting plate ( 06 ) can be pushed through a shaft ( 26 ) formed between two lateral defining walls ( 27 ) in order to bend the banderole ( 01 ) between the defining walls ( 27 ) and the lateral walls of the stack ( 02 ) counter to the lateral surface. A tongue ( 09 ) is displaceable between a retracted position, wherein it separates the channel ( 07 ) from the surface of the supporting plate ( 06 ), and a withdrawn position, wherein it the channel ( 07 ) is placed in an open position with respect to the surface of the supporting plate ( 06 ).

[0001] The invention relates to devices and a method for bundling a stack of sheet-like objects, in particular bank notes, in accordance with the preamble of claims 1, 15 or 22.

[0002] With this known device, the stack is created with the aid of a paddle wheel, whose paddles unload the objects to be stacked singly on the feed plate or the stack. Such a device is particularly suitable for application in connection with a money counting machine for the automatic counting and wrapping of used bank notes.

[0003] The object of the invention is based on creating devices and a method for bundling a stack of sheet-like objects, in particular bank notes.

[0004] In accordance with the invention, this object is attained by means of the characteristics of claims 1, 15 or 22.

[0005] The advantages which can be obtained by means of the invention consist in particular in that by means of the device it is possible to rapidly and simply bundle bank notes, which from the start are provided in the form of stacks containing a known number of bank notes. For this reason the device is particularly suited for use in connection with a bank note printing and cutting machine, which delivers printed bank notes in the form of such stacks.

[0006] For wrapping such a stack with a banding strip it is initially necessary to place the stack transversely over the banding strip. It is desirable, per se, to be able to do this by simply pushing the stack on a support. However, in the course of this the problem arises that the stack has a tendency to push a previously placed banding strip aside, so that pushing the banding strip under the stack is not possible thereafter.

[0007] If an embedded channel for the banding strip is provided on the support plate, such as is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,218, a banding strip in the channel cannot be displaced by a stack being pushed on top of it, or it can be possible to push the banding strip through the channel after the stack has been placed, however, the problem arises that at least the lowest bank notes get caught in the course of being pushed over the channel or become damaged.

[0008] This is prevented by means of a tongue which can be displaced between an extended position, in which it separates the channel from the surface of the support plate and lets the stack be pushed over the channel, and a retracted position, in which the channel is open toward the surface of the support plate, so that a banding strip placed into the channel can be wrapped around the stack.

[0009] A spring element is preferably provided for pressing the banding strip against the underside of a stack resting on the support plate. This spring element can usefully be displaced by the tongue in such a way that, in the extended position of the tongue, it leaves the channel open for the passage of the banding strip, so that the latter can be pushed into the channel without a noticeable resistance, and is only pressed against the underside of the stack in the retracted state of the tongue, in which the wrapping of the banding strip around the stack can take place, in order to assure that the banding strip rests against the underside and the sides of the stack substantially without play.

[0010] In order to displace the spring element out of the channel in the extended state of the tongue, the tongue preferably has at least one elongated fin.

[0011] A first actuator provided for pushing a stack into the chute preferably consists of a pressing element for pressing against the surface of the stack, so that the latter can be compressed prior to bundling, wherein a central opening for the passage of a tool for connecting the ends of the banding strip is provided in the pressing element.

[0012] This tool can be a a heated die, which can be pressed against the ends of the banding strip for melting a heat-sealing adhesive applied to one end of the banding strip in order to connect it in this way with the opposite end.

[0013] A second actuator can be provided for pushing the bundled stack out of the chute. It is usefully equipped with an arresting device for arresting the support plate at a predetermined depth of the chute. The arresting device makes it possible to exert a considerable pressure on the stack by means of the first actuator and to compress the stack in this way to a preselected uniform height. Furthermore, a solid counterpressure is generated in the course of displacing the banding strip by means of the heating die.

[0014] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in what follows.

[0015] Shown are in:

[0016]FIG. 1, a vertical section through a device parallel with the conveying direction of the banding strip in a first stage of the operating process of the device,

[0017]FIG. 2, a vertical section through the device in FIG. 1 in a conveying direction of the bank notes extending vertically in respect to the conveying direction of the banding strip,

[0018]FIG. 3, a section analogous to the one in FIG. 2 through the device in a second stage of its operating process,

[0019]FIG. 4, a section analogous to the one in FIG. 3 in a third stage of the operating process,

[0020]FIG. 5, a section analogous to the one in FIG. 1 in a fourth stage of the operating process,

[0021]FIG. 6, a section, again analogous to the one in FIG. 2 in a fifth stage, and

[0022]FIG. 7, a detail of a modification of the device.

[0023] In FIGS. 1 and 2 the device is represented in a first stage of its operating process in two steps along planes extending vertically in respect to each other.

[0024]FIG. 1 shows the device in a first vertical section parallel with the conveying direction of a banding strip 01, which is intended to be used for bundling bank note stacks 02. The banding strip 01 is conveyed from a supply roll 03 on a work table 04, into which a vertically movable support plate 06 has been embedded. For the sake of clarity, means for conveying the banding strip 01 are not represented in FIG. 1. As can be better seen in the sectional view in FIG. 2, which extends parallel to the conveying direction of the stack 02, a channel 07 runs in the conveying direction of the banding strip 01 transversely across the support plate 06. A spring arrangement, in this case a leaf spring 08, is mounted on the bottom of the channel 07 and rises in the conveying direction of the banding strip 01, i.e. from the right to the left in FIG. 1. A rigid tongue 09, here in the form of a rectangular tube or C-profile, having two downwardly extending elongated fins 11, is displaceably arranged in the upper area of the channel 07. The displacement of the tongue 09 is controlled by means of a pneumatic cylinder 12.

[0025] In the stage represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tongue 09 extends over the width of the support plate 06 and past both its sides onto the work table 04. The fins 11 keep the leaf spring 08 pushed down, so that the banding strip 01, coming from the supply roll 03, can be pushed through the channel 07 as far as the opposite side of the work table 04 into its position represented in FIG. 1 without encountering resistance or running the danger of becoming stuck.

[0026] The banding strip 01 is provided with markers and a partial adhesive application at regular intervals. The distance of the markers from each other has been selected in accordance with the format of the bank notes to be provided with the banding strip and the number of bank notes which should be contained in a stack 02. A reading device 14 for the markers is arranged at a location which can be selected freely to the greatest extent along the path of the banding strip 01 from the supply roll 03 to the support plate 06, in order to monitor the conveying of the banding strip 01 and to stop the means for conveying the banding strip 01 after the length required for bundling a stack 02. Depending on the type of markers (imprint, window, etc.), the reading device 14 can be designed as a camera, photoelectric barrier or the like. Alternatively to the reading device 14, a sensor 15 indicated by dashed lines for detecting the leading end of the banding strip 01 and for stopping the conveying means when this end has been detected, could also be provided on the part of the conveyance path of the banding strip 01 located on the other side of the support plate 06. By displacing this sensor 15 along the conveying path, the length of the banding strip 01 to be conveyed for any of the stacks 02 to be bundled could be set.

[0027] A cutting device 16 is connected to the reading device 14 (or the sensor 15) for cutting the banding strip 01 each time its intended length has been conveyed.

[0028] As can be seen in particular in the partial enlargement in FIG. 2 accented by a surrounding dashed circle, the top of the tongue 09 is flush with that of the support plate 06 surrounding it, so that, when the stack 02 is pushed by a pusher 13 from the position indicated in FIG. 2 onto the support plate 06, the lowermost bank notes in the stack 02 slide over the edges of the support plate 06 and the tongue 09 without being squashed or bent.

[0029]FIG. 3 shows a second stage of the operating cycle of the device in a view analogous to that of FIG. 2. By means of the pusher 13, the stack 02 of bank notes has been exactly positioned on the support plate 06, whose dimensions—at least in the direction of extension of the banding strip 01—correspond to those of the bank notes in the stack 02. The tongue 09 has been retracted from the position represented in FIG. 1, in which it has entered the channel 07, so that it no longer touches the bank notes of the stack 02. This allows the leaf spring 08 to pivot upwards and to clamp the banding strip 01 against the underside of the stack 02.

[0030] A linearly displaceable upper actuator 17 in the form of a pneumatic cylinder has been mounted above the support plate 06 and the stack 02 lying on it. It supports a vertically movable pressing element 18. The pressing element 18 is comprised of two contact feet 19, which are intended to be pressed against the top of the stack 02 during the vertical movement of the first actuator 17, and of a heatable die 22 in a gap 21 between the contact feet 19. With the aid of a third actuator 23, the die 22 can be moved between the position represented in FIG. 3, in which it is flush with the underside of the contact feet 19, and an upward retracted position, in which it substantially clears the gap 21.

[0031] The support plate 06 is also supported by a still further actuator 24, here called a second actuator 24, which makes possible a vertical movement of the support plate 06 between the position indicated in FIG. 3, in which the surface of the support plate is flush with that of the work table 04, and a position wherein it is lowered into a chute 26 located underneath the work surface 04.

[0032] The lower actuator 24 can also be designed as a pneumatic cylinder. If it has a narrower piston cross section than the upper actuator 17, it is possible by connecting the two actuators 17, 24 with an identical supply pressure to clamp the stack 02 with a force proportional to the cross-sectional difference and simultaneously to push the stack 02, together with the support plate 06, into the chute 26.

[0033]FIG. 4 shows the device in a third stage of its operating cycle. Here the pressing element 18 has been lowered and the stack 02, which is clamped between the pressing element 18 and the support plate 06, has been compressed to a predetermined thickness. By pushing the stack 02 into the chute 26, end sections 28 of the banding strip 01 projecting on both sides past the stack 02 are bent upward at the lateral walls 27 (see FIG. 1) of the chute 26 and project past the top of the stack 02.

[0034] In this state at the latest, the heatable die 22 is lifted for clearing the gap 21, and two lateral pushers 29, 31, which are represented in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5, become active one after the other. Each of the pushers 29, 31 has an arm 32, 33, which can be pushed into the gap 21, and a fourth actuator 34 for driving the movement of the arms. By pushing the arms 32, 33 one after the other into the gap 21, the upper ends of the two end sections 28 are bent over onto the top of the stack 02, so that they come to rest on top of each other, wherein the partial adhesive application has preferably been placed on the top of the first folded-over end section 28.

[0035] After the two arms 32, 33 have left the gap 21 again, the heatable die 22, which in FIG. 5 has been pulled upward out of the gap 21 and is therefore not visible, is lowered for melting the adhesive application and to connect the two ends of the banding strip 01 in this way.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, the support plate 06 now returns to its raised position, in which it is flush with the work table 04, the pressing element 18 is simultaneously lifted to release the bundled stack 02, the stack 02 is pushed onto a conveyor belt 36 with the aid of a pusher 13, and a fresh stack 02 takes its place. Various modification of the device and its operating process are possible.

[0037] For example, it is unimportant for the functioning of the device whether, at the start of processing a stack 02, the banding strip 01 is first inserted into the channel 07, or the stack 02 is placed on the support plate 06.

[0038] As represented by means of the example of the arm 33 in FIG. 5, the arm 32, 33 pushed into the gap 21 can be a rigid body with a sharp edge, which interacts with the end section 28 for creating a sharp bend in the end section 28 or, as shown by means of the example of the arm 32, have a roller or cylinder at its end in order to prevent any danger that the upper bank notes in the stack 02 slip in the course of the insertion of the arms 32, 33 into the gap 21.

[0039] Moreover, the lower actuator 24 can be provided with an arresting device 37, which is used to keep the support plate 06 immovably fixed in one or several positions, in particular in the lowered position represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, so that a possibly considerable pressure can be exerted by the first actuator 17, which is required to produce the desired thickness of the stack 02 and in this way to assure the unhampered introduction of the arms 32, 33 into the gap 21 and a tight bundling of the bank notes.

[0040] In connection with the embodiment of the device represented in FIGS. 1 to 6 it was assumed that the finished bundled stack 02 is put out on the same level of the work table 04 to which a stack 02 to be bundled is supplied. In order to make possible with such a construction the reintroduction of the tongue 09 into the channel 07 of the support plate 06 after the bundled stack 02 has been pushed out, it can be practical for the front end 38 of the tongue 09 to be beveled, as shown in FIG. 7, so that when the tongue 09 is reinserted into the channel 07, it can displace the leaf spring 08 downward.

[0041] However, following the pushing-out of the stack 02, there is also the possibility of again lowering the support plate 06 sufficiently so that the tongue 09 can be brought into its extended position represented in FIG. 1, and to lift the support plate 06 only then, so that the leaf spring 08 is compressed by its contact with the underside of the fins 11.

[0042] A further option, not represented in the drawings, consists in arranging the conveyor belt 36 on a level below that of the work table 04 so that, when the support plate 06 has reached the level of the work table 04 after pushing out the stack 02, it is already empty and therefore the leaf spring 08 can be compressed by the tongue 09 which is already in the extended position.

[0043] The leaf spring 08 can of course also be replaced by a helical spring with a cover plate, or any other type of spring element.

[0044] In place of the leaf spring 08, the support plate 06 can also have resilient elements next to the tongue 09 on its side facing the stack 02. In this way the resilient elements constitute a channel for extending the tongue 09 and hold the stack 02. After the banding strip 01 has been inserted, the tongue 09 is retracted and the stack 02 is compressed by means of the support plate 06, so that the banding strip 01 is held by the stack 02. List of Reference Numerals 01 Banding strip 02 Stack 03 Supply roll 04 Work table 05 — 06 Support plate 07 Channel 08 Leaf spring 09 Tongue 10 — 11 Fin 12 Pneumatic cylinder 13 Pusher 14 Reading device 15 Sensor 16 Cutting device 17 Actuator, first, upper 18 Pressing element 19 Contact feet 20 — 21 Gap 22 Heatable die 23 Actuator, third 24 Actuator, second, lower 25 — 26 Chute 27 Lateral wall 28 End sections 29 Pusher 30 — 31 Pusher 32 Arm 33 Arm 34 Actuator, fourth 35 — 36 Conveyor belt 37 Arresting device 38 End, front 

1. A device for bundling a stack (02) of sheet-like objects, having a support plate (06) for the stack (02) and a banding strip (01) crossing between the surface of the support plate (06) and the underside of the stack (02), wherein a channel (07) for pushing the banding strip (01) under the stack (02) is formed in the support plate (06), and the support plate (06) can be pushed into a chute (26) formed between lateral border walls (27) in order to fold the banding strip (01) over against the lateral faces between the border walls (27) and the lateral faces of the stack (02), and having devices (29, 32, 32, 33, 34) for folding the end sections (28) of the banding strip (01) over against the top of the stack (02), characterized in that at least one spring element (08) for pressing the banding strip (01) against the underside of a stack (02) sitting on the support plate (06) is provided.
 2. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (09) is embodied as a hollow profile, in particular a rectangular tube.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the extended position the tongue (09) is flush with the surface of the support plate (06).
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a tongue (09) can be displaced between an extended position, in which it separates the channel (07) from the support plate (06), and a retracted position, in which the channel (07) is open toward the surface of the support plate (06).
 5. The device in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the spring element (08) can be displaced by the tongue (09) in such a way that, in the extended state of the tongue (09), it clears the channel (07) for the passage of the banding strip (01).
 6. The device in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the tongue (09) has at least one elongated fin (11), which in the extended state displaces the spring element (08) out of the channel (07).
 7. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one spring element (08) is arranged for creating a channel (07) between the support plate (06) and the stack (02).
 8. The device in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the spring element (08) is movable, and that the banding strip (01) can be fixed in place between the stack (02) and the support plate (06).
 9. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a first actuator (17) is arranged for pushing a stack (02) into the chute (26).
 10. The device in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the first actuator (17) comprises pressing elements (18) for pushing against the top of the stack (02), wherein a gap (21) for the passage of a tool for connecting the ends of the banding strip (01) is provided between the pressing elements (18).
 11. The device in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the tool is a heatable die (22).
 12. The device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second actuator (24) for pushing the stack (02) out of the chute (26) is provided.
 13. The device in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that an arresting device (37) for arresting the support plate (06) at a predetermined depth in the chute (26) is arranged.
 14. The device in accordance with one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that at least one actuator (17, 24) is a pneumatic cylinder.
 15. A method for drawing in a banding strip (01) for bundling a stack (02) of sheet-like objects by means of a banding strip (01), containing the following steps: a channel (07) is formed between the stack (02) and a support plate (06), a free end of the banding strip (01) is passed through this channel (07), the banding strip (01) is pressed against the stack (02) by means of a spring element (08).
 16. The method in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that following the fixing of the banding strip (01) in place, the stack (02) is moved into a chute (26) in order to place the banding strip (01) against the lateral faces of the stack (02).
 17. The method in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that the position of the banding strip is detected by means of a sensor (15) or a reading device (14) prior to the fixation in place of the banding strip (01).
 18. The method in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that the channel (07) is by changing the distance between the stack (02) and the support plate (06).
 19. The method in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that in the course of introducing it into the channel (07), the leading end of the banding strip (01) is limited transversely to the conveying direction by at least one lateral wall of the channel.
 20. The method in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that a tongue (09) is introduced into the channel (07).
 21. The method in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that following the introduction of the tongue (09), the banding strip (01) is passed into the channel (07).
 22. A device for bundling a stack (02) of sheet-like objects by means of a banding strip (01), wherein the stack (02) is arranged so that it is compressed by means of a first actuator (17) while the banding strip (01) is connected, and a second actuator (23) is arranged for moving a heatable die (22), characterized in that a further actuator (23) can be moved by means of this first actuator (17). 